Wings

Top and skirt: Afa Bee
Belt & jewellery: Primark 

I have new found motivation, and a head buzzing full of ideas. Haven't felt like this in weeks. Alhamdullilah.

I Came across this quote today that helped snap me out of my lazy stupor:

"You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?" -Rumi

Nuff said. 

Sketch with me?

So I'm really bad at this blogging thing.

I forget I have one, and then when I remember I have no idea what to post :/

So I thought I'd show you guys how I sketch, coz, well, why not :D

This isn't one of my best, I kind of rushed it in a few minutes so I'm not proud. It's of a past design I've already made so nothing new to show, just wanted to show you guys my technique :) Oh and i'm no way neeear professional, I haven't studied fashion so everything I know, including the sketching, is self taught- so if you're serious about learning fashion illustration don't take tips from me! It's just how I do it. Youtube some tutorial vids, just practise plenty and eventually you'll find a drawing style that suits you. :)


Step 1: lightly sketch the shape of a body. I start with the head then move downwards. As you can see in the picture, I just make the body parts using shapes

2: Start to lightly fill in the shape of your outfit design in pencil again

3: Draw in your design using a pen- I usually use black fineliners because it's easiest

4: Rub out your pencil linings! Can't have that showing :P

5:  Lightly colour in the base colours- by base colour, I mean you colour the whole thing evenly without adding shadows etc. I use watercolour pencils for this because it's all I have at the moment. But there's special felt tip style marker pens that are best for this, or any pencil colours will do!

6: Add the shading in areas where it's necessary

7: finish it off and neaten things up, and you're done!


If it wasn't obvious to you already, I um...suck at teaching anything *nervous grin*

I'm really hoping the pictures suffice :D

Off to cook for iftar now, chow darlings

Asma
xxxx

Fabric and breakdowns

My room is a mess of fabric samples and sketches. That picture you see up there is like the clean section of my floor right now. You can see the wood underneath, for one 0_0
Don't get me wrong, usually this is my idea of bliss. Alone in my room, headphones plugged in and world plugged out, playing with material, working on designs and sketching them on paper; is my version of the perfect afternoon in.

Usually.

But when you try and turn your hobby into a career, things get crazay. Allow me to explain better:

Me + Pressure = BREAKDOWN 

And breakdowns go a little like this in my head:

"OMG what if nobody likes this one.."
"What if they don't like this colour?!"
"Am I thinking too much?"
"WHERE DO I GET MORE OF THIS FABRIC?!"
"I. HAVE. SO. MUCH. TO. DO."
"This design SUCKS!"
"Oh gosh, why am I working so slowly?"

Etc. -__-

Because suddenly things are expected of me, and I can't handle the possibility of letting people down. It's one of the things I hate most, just the thought of someone being disappointed in me fills me with dread- trust me, I was the kid who broke down in tears if the teacher so much as looked at her angrily.

So while I'm meant to be in my happy zone right now, it's more like I'm in "constantly criticising myself" zone.

I just hope I can get things perfect soon so I can breathe again!

Peace and love,

Asma xxx

Bright Summer Bee

Day 2 of Ramadhaaaan! :D

And I've been trying to keep myself uber busy to distract me from the rumbling tummy, soo far so gooood! I don't know about you guys, but I think I'm always pleasantly surprised to find my levels of concentration and willpower are always heightened when fasting, I end up getting waaaay more done then usual Alhamdullilah. We're fasting until after 9pm here, but I'm happy to say I did not feel like a zombie until 7 yesterday, so hoping I can hold on today aswell :P

I'm not one for outfit of the day posts- mainly because I have to dress up for these pics! No joke, usually I wear whatever is clean in my cupboard, and comfortable, and I cannot be bothered to accessorize and stuff more than once a week because I'm just a lazay ass. I really admire girls who can put the effort in everyday because I don't know whereeee they get the energy.

Really, you guys are too cool, send some of that swag my way? XD If I did OOTD pics on a daily, you'd think I was a hobo. For reals. I much prefer styling other people, just cannot be bothered when it comes to myself- again, I cannot express how lazy I am!

But today was one of those "hey, why not" days (maybe it was the hunger talking), and I made this maxi dress so felt like styling it to show y'all.

I'm being bright so I can match the weather hehe ^_^

Hope you likey, 

Peace out

Asma xxxx

Scarf: Market stall in Whitechapel
Dress: Afa Bee

Abaya: Afa Bee
Belt: DIY with gold rope

Bag: ASOS

Spring begins

There’s something about this time of year that makes you sick with holiday blues. Exams start looming in, coursework deadlines appear, and work starts taking its toll. Spring begins to blossom, teasing us with bursts of sunshine on random days, giving us a taste of that summer feeling in the air.

You know the one. It tastes like freedom. <3

These are two skirts we made last summer when we were obsessing over print. Chiffon prints, maxi skirts and sun. Take me on holidaaaaay :(

-Asma xx

Scarf: Newlook

 Necklace: DIY Topshop earrings on a black cord

Ring: Primark

Top: Afa Bee Jersey hi-low tee

Trench coat: ZARA

 Maxi skirt: Afa Bee

Scarf: Newlook

 Necklace: H&M

Top: Primark

Shirt: H&M

 Maxi skirt: Afa Bee

Lately

Lately I haven't been feeling myself at all.

Trying to finish a degree that my hearts just not in anymore. Kind of in a state of loss, not knowing what I'm doing or where I'm going with my life, it sort of drains the happy out of you. But khair insha'allah ><

My sister agreed to take some pics for me this morning as a pick me up (bless her <3). This is a top and skirt I made a while back- I only just realised now that they go kinda nice together, yay for colour blocking! Lol

I love these maxi skirts and oversized top combo's- they're ridiculously comfy and I can never get enough of the drapes. 

Hope you likey

Asma xx

Top: Afa Bee

Maxi skirt: Afa Bee

Shoes: New Look

Scarf: New Look

Animal prints and velvet...

Laaaaalalalala what a wonderful daaaay!

Oh wait, we’re in London. Gloomy is the word.

^^

So last night we decided to play around with the camera and take some pics, since we realised we barely ever do :O There are quite a few designs that have NEVER made it onto our facebook page because we’re ridiculously lazy about taking photos *guilty* We’re just not really picture taking people to be honest- probably because we don’t have much skill for it! Trust me, our photography needs mega practice :/

But we’ve made a pact to actually update our fb page and blog with pics more often :D So here you goooooo; the Maha skirt ( from the previous post) paired up with our new top design, Aafreen.

The front of the top is animal print, and the back is black velvet. We felt like experimenting with 2 contrasting materials here :P

Hope you likey,

Asma, Fatima & Alia

xxx

Top: Afa Bee

Skirt: Afa Bee

Scarf: New Look

Earrings: New Look
Rings: (assorted) H&M, Primark, Dubai.

The. Very. First. Post. :O

So this blooog has hung in cyber space like an abandoned puppy for the past few months. However, upon re-establishing our responsibilities, we have taken it in once again and intend to actually post stuff! Well um...ATTEMPT to post stuff? :)Since this blogging thannng is entirely new to us, we don't know where to start. Hence, it seems only logical to start with whatever has been popping in our recent lives.

So um....

*silence*Asma: what, you got nothing?
Alia: Don't look at me! what happens in your life?
*Both look at Fatima*
Fatima: Huh? What? ME?

....Okay...soooo...maybe our lives aren't that interesting! 

Nothing much goes down to be honest haha, but no worries, we plan to just exaggerate the little events to entertain ya ;D
So as you may know (and if you didn't, ya do now!) Afa Bee is the name of our clothing label, and we have been majorly slacking designers lately- Uni & work must come first :(
SUCKS.

But we're waiting for the day when we can just focus on our baby, this summer insha'allah, and we're designing and sewing pieces until then that will be part of our official collection. Oooooh me likey the word official, makes it sound cooler than it is heehee ^.^

So here's some pictures of two of our latest designs: The Maha skirt, and The Safia top :D

Peace out,
Afa Bee

Skirt: Afa Bee
Top: Afa Bee

Scarf: New Look

Jacket: Miss Selfridge
Jewellery: Primark